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What is an aquifer?

What is an aquifer?. A body of rock, sediment, or soil that contains drinkable water and can transmit this water to wells or springs in economically usable quantities . The Edwards Aquifer. Where’s the water?. DEL RIO CLAY.

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What is an aquifer?

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  1. What is an aquifer? A body of rock, sediment, or soil that contains drinkable water and can transmit this water to wells or springs in economically usable quantities

  2. The Edwards Aquifer

  3. Where’s the water? DEL RIO CLAY Water is held in rocks between the Glen Rose Limestone and the low permeability Del Rio Clay. GLEN ROSE LIMESTONE

  4. The Dolomitic Member

  5. The Kirschberg Evaporite Member

  6. Regional Dense Member

  7. Conduits in the Leached and Collapsed Member

  8. The Georgetown Formation

  9. The Del Rio Clay and Overlying Sediments DEL RIO CLAY GLEN ROSE LS

  10. Geologic History Rainwater mixed with carbon dioxide in the air and soil, carving the landscape into caves and fissures.

  11. Geologic History In the Miocene (about 17 million years ago), the aquifer rocks were uplifted and faulted (forming the Balcones Escarpment). They again became subject to erosion and dissolution.

  12. Caves Associated With the Edwards Inner Space Cavern Austin, TX Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area Rocksprings, TX Natural Bridge Caverns Natural Bridge Caverns, TX Kickapoo Caverns State Park Brackettville, TX

  13. The Edwards Aquifer of Today • The aquifer contains several flow systems – One occurs near Del Rio

  14. The Edwards Aquifer of Today • The largest flow system runs from near Brackettville to near Kyle…

  15. The Edwards Aquifer of Today • … and supplies the major springs at San Marcos, New Braunfels, and San Antonio.

  16. The Edwards Aquifer of Today • Smaller flow systems include the Barton springs flow system…

  17. The Edwards Aquifer of Today • …and areas north of the Colorado River .

  18. How does water get into the aquifer? Water enters the aquifer through faults, fractures, sinkholes, or percolation through the soil. This process is called recharge. The recharge zone is the area where water enters the aquifer.

  19. Cross Section of the Edwards aquifer

  20. Recharge Feature in South Austin

  21. Marbridge Ranch

  22. Salado Big Boiling Springs Salado, TX

  23. Austin Barton (main) SpringAustin, TX

  24. San Marcos San Marcos SpringsSan Marcos, TX

  25. New Braunfels Comal SpringsNew Braunfels, TX

  26. Del Rio San Felipe SpringsDel Rio, TX

  27. Salado Georgetown Austin San Marcos San Antonio New Braunfels Del Rio Brackettville Uvalde It’s Where We Live • These springs led to the development of major towns along the aquifer: Salado, Georgetown, Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Uvalde, Brackettville, and Del Rio. All of these towns are sited where major springs discharge from the Edwards aquifer.

  28. Wells

  29. Who uses the aquifer’s waters? Groundwater Discharge by use, 1988-1999 Domestic/ Stock Industrial 3% 5% Municipal Springs 30% 50% Irrigation 12% Source: The Edwards Aquifer Authority

  30. Edwards Regulations • Spring flow must be maintained to protect endangered species

  31. J17 Well

  32. Spring Flow and J17 Readings

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